Unannounced

I wake up in a jolt. There’s a second loud crash coming from my kitchen. I glance at the clock that reads 4:03AM before I grab the metal water bottle on my bedside table and shrug to myself. It’ll have to do. I gently step into the hallway and peer down the stairs. I don’t hear any whispers or footsteps… But I still go down the stairs slowly, making sure I make as little noise as possible. I hear light shuffling, still coming from the kitchen. I grip the water bottle tighter, making sure I won’t accidentally drop it. I slowly peer round the corner into the kitchen to find my previously locked patio door slightly open. And sitting on the stool at the island, I see her. I instantly drop my arms and sigh in contempt. I step into the kitchen, my head slightly tilted to the side in disbelief.

“Why are you here?” I say dryly. She spins and smiles, still holding the sandwich in her hands.

“Hi! I’ve missed you,” she places the sandwich on the table and gives me a wide smile, I look blankly in her eyes before I notice she didn’t use a plate. I’m about to speak up when she chimes in first. “Haven’t you missed me?” I take a long breath.

“Please… use a plate.” I pause before adding, “Had I known I was getting a visitor, I’d’ve tidied up a bit.” She glances around, before feigning a grimace.

“Yea.. You’re right, this place is definitely not clean enough. Tsk tsk. How dare there be a single dish in the sink…” She rolls her eyes. Standing and slithering into place next to me, making sure she’s as close as she can be. “You disappoint me. You’ve never cared about the state of your house when I visited before.” She pouts. Putting a gentle hand on my shoulder, and leaning into me, putting enough weight that I feel myself tense to stay upright. I look down at her unimpressed. I feel her warm breath on my cheek as she starts again. “Do you have another woman up there? In your bed?” I clench my jaw and her eyebrow perks up, “You do! Why don’t I go introduce myself?” I grab her forearm before she can make her way out of the kitchen.

“There’s no one up there, I just wasn’t expecting a visitor at 4 AM. Kind of puts a damper on ones mood you know.” She looks down at my hand gripping her and pouts. I hesitantly let go, trying to gauge if she’ll still try to go upstairs or if she’ll stay put. “You could’ve waited until at least dawn before breaking and entering, or maybe even tried knocking, I would’ve let you in without you having to do,” I pause, trying to figure out how exactly she unlocked my door without breaking anything, coming up with nothing, “whatever it is you did to unlock my door.” She grins and slithers her way back to my side, placing her arm around my shoulders.

“Well now, where would the fun in that be? Besides I really wanted a sandwich.” I motion towards the less than half eaten sandwich on the counter.

“Do you mean you wanted a bite of a sandwich? And perhaps to inconvenience me in the process?” She grins sheepishly and shrugs.

“Same difference.” I roll my eyes, “oh come on, don’t act like that, we both know you enjoy these unannounced visits, it keeps you on your toes! Especially if you want to keep those reflexes and skills sharp.” I groan, thinking about my past life, the one I left behind years ago, the costume I used to wear. A time where I was relatively in the best shape of my life.

“Those days are over, I don’t need to keep my skills sharp. I just need a better lock system, to keep you out.” She grins, attempting to kiss my cheek, but I lean away before she can. Her smile shifts but stays. “Especially since you’re the only one attempting to keep me in contact.” She pulls away and looks at me, really looks at me, taking in my leaner build, my weakening muscles. Her gaze shifts from mischief to pity. That look is what tells me this is the last time she’ll come here, especially in the dead of night. I roll my shoulders.

“You may go now.” I make my way to widen the opening of my patio door. She finds my eyes. She stops herself from saying the thing we both know she’s thinking, and sulks toward the door. Her care free attitude now tame, she puts hand to my shoulder for the last time and walks out. I don’t even bother locking the door as I close the door and make my way to clean the mess she made in my kitchen. The last mess she’ll make in my kitchen.